Time-effect relationship of acupuncture on histopathology, ultrastructure, and neuroethology in the acute phase of cerebral hemorrhage

Many clinical studies have addressed the treatment of acute cerebral hemorrhage using acupuncture. However, few studies have examined the relationship between time of acupuncture and curative effect on cerebral hemorrhage. By observing the effect of acupuncture on changes in histopathology, ultrastructure, and neuroethology in a cerebral hemorrhage model of rats, we have directly examined the time-effect relationship of acupuncture. The rat model of cerebral hemorrhage was produced by slowly injecting autologous blood to the right caudate nucleus. The experimental groups were: 3-, 9-, 24-, and 48-hour model groups; and 3-, 9-, 24-, and 48-hour acupuncture groups. The sham-operation group was used for comparison. Acupuncture was performed at the Neiguan(PC6) and Renzhong(DU26) acupoints, twice a day, 6 hours apart, for 5 consecutive days. Brain tissue changes were observed by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Neuroethology was assessed using Bederson and Longa scores. Our results show that compared with the sham-operation and model groups, Bederson and Longa scores were lower in each acupuncture group, with visibly improved histopathology and brain tissue ultrastructure. Further, the results were better in the 3-and 9-hour acupuncture groups than the 24-and 48-hour acupuncture groups. Our findings show that acupuncture treatment can relieve pathological and ultrastructural deterioration and neurological impairment caused by the acute phase of cerebral hemorrhage, and may protect brain tissue during this period. In addition, earlier acupuncture intervention following cerebral hemorrhage(by 3 or 9 hours) is associated with a better treatment outcome.

Time-effect and dose-effect of prasugrel hydrobromide acetic acid compound inhibiting platelet aggregation

Aim To evaluate the time-effect and dose-effect of prasugrel hydrobromide acetic acid compound （PHAAC） inhibiting platelet aggregation. Methods For the time-effect study, 190 Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were devided into 19 groups （n- 10）： the vehicle control group, the PHAAC groups （0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 24, 48, 72, 96 h） and the prasugrel hydrochloride groups （0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 24, 48, 72, 96 h）. Rats were singly intra- gastic administration of the vehicle, the PHAAC （5 mg·kg^-1） or the prasugrel hydrochloride （5 mg · kg^-1 ）, re- spectively. Blood samples were taken at each time point for the determination of platelet aggregation rate （PAR）. For the dose-effect study, 110 SD rats were devided into 11 groups （n= 10）： the vehicle control group, the PHAAC groups （10, 5, 2.5, 1, 0.5 mg · kg^-1, dosage of prasugrel） and the prasugrel hydrochloride groups （ 10, 5, 2.5, 1, 0.5 mg · kg^-1, dosage of prasugrel） . Blood samples were taken at 4 h after drug administration for the determination of PAR. Results Compared with the vehicle group, PHAAC has significant anti-platelet ag- gregative effects （P 〈 0.05） at the time of 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 24, 48 h, and the effect at the time of 4 h was the strongest. There were no obvious differences between the effect of PHAAC （5 mg · kg^-1） and prasugrel hydrochlo- ride （5 mg · kg^-1） at each time point. Compared with the vehicle group, intragastic administration of PHAAC at the doses of 10, 5, 2.5, 1, 0.5 mg · kg^-1 could obviously inhibite the platelet aggregation, and showed a dose- dependent manner. There were no significant differences between the effect of PHAAC and prasugrel hydrochloride at the same dose. Conclusion PHAAC can inhibit platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner, and the effect at 4 h after drug administration is the strongest. The action strength and duration of PHAAC are similar with that of the prasugrel hydrochloride.

INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT NEEDLE-RETAINING DURATION ON CEREBRAL HEMODYNAMICS OF CEREBRAL PARALYSIS CHILDREN

Objective: To investigate the effects of different needle-retaining duration on cerebral hemodynamics in cerebral paralysis (CP) children. Methods: A total of 20 cases of CP children were subjected into this study. Changes of systolic peak value (Vs), blood flow velocity at the end-diastolic phase (Ved), mean velocity (Vm), pulsation index (PI) and resistance index (RI) of the cerebral hemodynamics before and after performing JIN’s Three-Needling Therapy with the needles retained for 30 min (group A) and 5 min (group B) were observed by using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD). Results: After acupuncture, the blood flow in the middle cerebral artery (MCA), anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) was accelerated, and the resistance of blood vessels decreased. The effect of needle-retaining-30 min was better than that of needle-retaining-5 min. Conclusion: In treating cerebral paralysis by using JIN’s Three-Needling Therapy, sufficient stimulation provided by needle remaining is an important factor for achieving satisfactory therapeutic effects.

Clinical Study on Time-effect Relation of Acupuncture for Pain due to Dysmenorrhea

Objective： To observe the time-effect relationship of needling a single point or multiple points for pain relief in patients with severe primary dysmenorrhea. Methods： A total of 20 cases with severe primary dysmenorrhea were randomly allocated into a group of single point. In each treatment, the needles retained for 30 min and 15 person times were observed in each group. The VAS （Visual Analogue Scale） values were recorded immediately before needling, 5 min, 20 min and 30 min upon insertion, and 30 min, 60 min and 120 min upon withdrawal for statistical analysis. Results： Immediate pain relief occurred following acupuncture and the pain-alleviating effect was incremented within the 30 min of needle retaining. At 20 min upon needle insertion, the pain relief from needling multiple points appeared substantially stronger than needling a single point （P〈0.05） and this effect remained until 2 h after withdraw of the needles. Conclusion： Needling a single point or multiple points can both produce remarkably immediate pain relief for patients with severe primary dysmenorrhea and share similar time-effect relationship. However, needling multiple points showed substantially better effects than needling a single point in a number of time points.